BASIC INFO
Hermit Crabs are wonderful pets that are easy to look after.
The hermit crab has evolved to be able to live on land with the use of empty shells as a home and protection.
With great care, the hermit crab can live a long life.
Hermit crabs love company, so have multiple crabs living together.
They’ll become more active with the company. Hermit crabs are nocturnal and will sleep throughout most of the day.
Hermit Crabs are wonderful pets that are easy to look after.
The hermit crab has evolved to be able to live on land with the use of empty shells as a home and protection.
With great care, the hermit crab can live a long life.
Hermit crabs love company, so have multiple crabs living together.
They’ll become more active with the company. Hermit crabs are nocturnal and will sleep throughout most of the day.
FOOD
Hermit crabs need to be fed regularly and in little amounts at a time to ensure the food is fresh.
Suitable foods to feed a hermit crab are hermit crab pellets, apples and other fruits, and shredded coconut.
Make sure any fresh food that isn’t eaten that day is removed, hermit crab pellets will last longer.
Hermit crabs need to be fed regularly and in little amounts at a time to ensure the food is fresh.
Suitable foods to feed a hermit crab are hermit crab pellets, apples and other fruits, and shredded coconut.
Make sure any fresh food that isn’t eaten that day is removed, hermit crab pellets will last longer.
HOUSING
Choose an aquarium with a glass cover for hermit crabs to live in.
As hermit crabs are tropical animals, they need the temperature of the aquarium kept around 30 degrees Celsius, and to not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.
A low wattage globe above the aquarium or a reptile heat mat, will help maintain the temperature.
Heating one end of the aquarium allows the hermit crabs to move to where it suits their body temperatures best.
Don't not fill the aquarium up with water, as hermit crabs are land crabs.
Place either shell grit or aquarium sand over the floor of the aquarium.
Try to keep the sand dry at all times. Hermit crabs love to climb, so include driftwood pieces or mangrove roots within the aquarium to provide some entertainment.
Hermit crabs require humidity of around 50-70%.
They need this to keep their gills moist and to breathe properly.
To keep a high level of humidity, make sure there’s plenty of water within the water bowls.
Two types of water needs to be provided at all times for your hermit crabs.
Have fresh water in one bowl for drinking, and in the other bowl have salt water for bathing.
Salt water can be made with Hermit Crab Salt and water.
Use heavy, solid bowls for the water as hermit crabs love to climb and can tip over the water if a lightweight container is used but shallow enough for the hermit crab to climb out of.
Change water on a daily basis to keep it clean.
Choose an aquarium with a glass cover for hermit crabs to live in.
As hermit crabs are tropical animals, they need the temperature of the aquarium kept around 30 degrees Celsius, and to not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.
A low wattage globe above the aquarium or a reptile heat mat, will help maintain the temperature.
Heating one end of the aquarium allows the hermit crabs to move to where it suits their body temperatures best.
Don't not fill the aquarium up with water, as hermit crabs are land crabs.
Place either shell grit or aquarium sand over the floor of the aquarium.
Try to keep the sand dry at all times. Hermit crabs love to climb, so include driftwood pieces or mangrove roots within the aquarium to provide some entertainment.
Hermit crabs require humidity of around 50-70%.
They need this to keep their gills moist and to breathe properly.
To keep a high level of humidity, make sure there’s plenty of water within the water bowls.
Two types of water needs to be provided at all times for your hermit crabs.
Have fresh water in one bowl for drinking, and in the other bowl have salt water for bathing.
Salt water can be made with Hermit Crab Salt and water.
Use heavy, solid bowls for the water as hermit crabs love to climb and can tip over the water if a lightweight container is used but shallow enough for the hermit crab to climb out of.
Change water on a daily basis to keep it clean.
FIGHTING
Fighting can be an issue if the aquarium is over populated and crowed. If too many crabs live together, a larger aquarium and more climbing ornaments may be required to space the crabs out. Some hermit crabs might get aggressive and pull other crabs out of their shells to steal it. It is important to have enough spare shells to avoid this happening. MOULTING
Hermit crabs moult their outer skin usually twice a year. While a hermit crab is moulting, it will become less active, won’t eat, drink excessive amount of water, and may even burrow - this is perfectly normal behaviour during this period. It will take several weeks for the hermit crab’s new skin to harden, so it will need to be left alone until the skin has hardened. |
SHELLS
Usually after moulting, hermit crabs will change the shell they the live in. Provide the hermit crabs with some spare shells in the aquarium. It is essential the provided shells are slightly larger than the previous one as the hermit crabs are continuously growing. |
HEALTH
Common health problems with hermit crabs include stress and poisoning, so make sure you keep a close eye on them.
Signs of stress include inactiveness, sluggish, and leaving their shells. It is not normal for a hermit crab to walk around or sit in a corner without their shell as they’re exposed and unprotected from other crabs attacking. Stress can be caused from overcrowding and bullying, living alone, being dropped on their shells, or extreme temperatures (either too hot, or too cold).
Hermit crabs can be easily poisoned from cleaning sprays and detergents used around the house, and only a small amount can be fatal. Make sure no chemicals are used when cleaning the aquarium, and none are used near your hermit crabs including hairspray and air fresheners.
Be careful if you take your hermit crabs out and place them on carpet, as carpets care normally cleaned with chemicals. Signs that might indicated your hermit crab is poisoned are dropping their shells off and sitting in water, weakness (they need strong muscles to hold their shell up), and pulling off limbs. As hermit crabs cannot wash toxins off themselves, they will start to pull off affected areas like their legs.
Common health problems with hermit crabs include stress and poisoning, so make sure you keep a close eye on them.
Signs of stress include inactiveness, sluggish, and leaving their shells. It is not normal for a hermit crab to walk around or sit in a corner without their shell as they’re exposed and unprotected from other crabs attacking. Stress can be caused from overcrowding and bullying, living alone, being dropped on their shells, or extreme temperatures (either too hot, or too cold).
Hermit crabs can be easily poisoned from cleaning sprays and detergents used around the house, and only a small amount can be fatal. Make sure no chemicals are used when cleaning the aquarium, and none are used near your hermit crabs including hairspray and air fresheners.
Be careful if you take your hermit crabs out and place them on carpet, as carpets care normally cleaned with chemicals. Signs that might indicated your hermit crab is poisoned are dropping their shells off and sitting in water, weakness (they need strong muscles to hold their shell up), and pulling off limbs. As hermit crabs cannot wash toxins off themselves, they will start to pull off affected areas like their legs.
Image credits in order of appearance
https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2012/05/pets-for-children-how-about-hermit-crabs.html
https://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/choosing-small-pet/127-quirky-hermit-crab-names
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Hermit-Crab-2-4-Ounce/dp/B00027ZVDM
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=117749
https://simplyshells.com.au/shop/hermit-crab-shells-natural-5-pack/
https://myfriendlypets.com/how-get-hermit-crab-out-its-shell/